Better known as the CEO of Geelong during their spectacular rise in the latter part of the 2000s, Cook played his four games for Melbourne after crossing from Hawthorn where he'd managed more than 50 appearances in the reserves without making the seniors. Before joining the Hawks he'd played 27 games for Box Hill in the VFA from 1973.

After playing four games in his only senior season Cook was one of Melbourne's representatives in the 1977Grand Final Mile race along with Peter Keays. It was his last act before leaving the club. He first joined Caulfield in 1978, then East Perth in the WAFL and Subiaco. In 1983 he won Sunday Football League best and fairest while playing for Rockingham then returned to East Perth as Reserves coach where he won two reserves premierships. In 1986 he took over as senior coach at Ainslie in the ACTFL.

Had his start in football administration with the West Coast Eagles in 1990, with whom he was the CEO during their greatest era, before joining Geelong in 1999 where he met with more premiership success.